Department of Military Science

You'll have the opportunity to grow and learn over the summer with training camps.

Basic Camp is a 31-day training event designed to introduce Cadets to the Army. The objective is to develop Cadet leadership skills and train them on individual and junior leader tasks to develop and reinforce Warrior Ethos and our Army Values. Basic Camp provides the critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in ROTC and, ultimately, the Army. Basic Camp Cadets graduate the course prepared to lead at the team (3-4 Cadets) and squad (9-13 Cadets) level.

Advanced Camp is a 31-day training event that is designed to assess a Cadet’s ability to demonstrate proficiency in basic officer leadership tasks. Cadets are evaluated on their ability to lead at the Squad and Platoon levels, both in garrison and tactical environments. Cadets are mentally and physically tested during a 12-day, consequence-driven field training exercise that replicates a combat training center rotation. Successful completion of the Advanced Camp is a prerequisite for commissioning. 

The Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT) provides Cadets the opportunity to experience leadership in Army Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E) units over a three- to four-week period. Cadets serve in lieutenant-level leadership positions in active-duty units. Platoon Leader positions have a 3-4 week duration depending on the hosting unit and location. Assignments include units that are located in and beyond the continental United States. Cadets are assigned a unit mentor and are provided on-post lodging and meals via a dining facility. This program is exclusively designed for MS III Cadets before and after completion of Advanced Camp.

Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program (CULP): Cadets now have the opportunity to compete for immersion in more than 20 countries. These opportunities expose them to everyday life in different cultures and intensifies language study, which helps produce commissioned officers who possess the right blend of language and cultural skills required to support global operations in the 21st Century.

From physical training to classroom instruction and hands-on labs, you'll have various opportunities uniquely available to you.

• Fall and Spring Field Training Exercises: Each semester Cadets travel to a training area for 2-3 days (over a weekend) to train on land navigation, confidence courses, rappelling, marksmanship, and other activities.
• Color Guard: Cadets conduct Color Guards for events and ceremonies in and around Vermillion. Cadets earn participation points for being on the Color Guard team, which can make them competitive to attend other training events (i.e. airborne school, air assault school, etc.).
• Ranger Challenge: This fall event lets teams of nine and five Cadets compete against other ROTC programs on land navigation, a 12-mile ruck march, building a one-rope bridge, confidence courses, and other events.
• Ranger Buddy: A spring event that includes two cadet teams. Cadets compete against other ROTC programs in events similar to the Ranger Challenge.
• Mountain Warfare Challenge: Cadets compete against other ROTC programs on winter survival skills. 

Scholarships and stipends in Army ROTC help you focus on what’s important. Namely, getting a college degree – not how you will pay for it.

• Choose either 100% tuition and fees or $6,000 per semester for room and board
• $600 allowance per semester for books
• $420 monthly stipend for the life of the scholarship

High school students can apply for a 4 year National Scholarship.  If high school students do not receive a scholarship, they can still enroll in military science classes at USD.

Three-year Advanced Designee Scholarship

These scholarships are awarded after starting college. You can receive one of these scholarships even if you have been turned down from a national high school scholarship.

Nursing Scholarships

Army ROTC offers two, three or four-year scholarships for undergraduate nursing students. Students who receive a Nursing scholarship are eligible to compete for Active Duty to be an Army Nurse Corps Officer. 

Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarship

GRFD Scholarships are for students who want to ensure they will commission as a 2nd Lt. in either the Army Reserves or the National Guard. GRFD Cadets are NOT eligible to compete for Active Duty.